Ravenshoe Railway Company Ltd

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The History of Ravenshoe Steam Railway 'Capella'

Ravenshoe Steam Railway evolved from the company called RAILCo, which grew out of the closure of the railway line between Ravenshoe and Atherton due to the declaration of World Heritage Listing of The Wet Tropics in 1988.

Construction of this line had commenced in Cairns in May 1886 ostensibly to service the mining town of Herberton. By June 1891 the line was opened to Kuranda. "The Herberton Railway" reached Mareeba in August 1893 and rested there for 10 years. The next stage, to Atherton was commenced in 1903 and reached there in August that year. The extension from Atherton commenced in 1908 and reached Herberton in October 1910. The line was extended to Tumoulin in 1911 and eventually to Ravenshoe in 1916.

RAILCo was formed as a company in 1988 by a group of steam enthusiasts, to preserve the historic railway line. Mr. Roger Perry-Keene was the first President, and the loco that was in Atherton is named after him. RAILCo found a D17 class steam loco residing in Amaroo Park at Capella in Central Queensland. The Peak Downs Shire donated the loco on the proviso that it be named 'CAPELLA' and it was transported by road to Ravenshoe on an oilrig transporter on 10th November 1989. The restoration was under the control of Walter Dixon, and the group had it operational again after three months intense work. It was first steamed up on 7th May 1990. The Earl family, the developers of Millstream Estates obtained the 1930's carriages, and at that time the train was named The Millstream Express. The first official journey of the train was for the Torimba Festival celebrations on the 20th October 1990.

The train runs from Ravenshoe to Tumoulin, over high wooden trestle bridges, through open forest to Tumoulin, the highest railway station in Queensland at 3165 (feet) 964.7 meters. Ravenshoe Steam Railway is a non-profit Company, managed and operated totally by volunteers, and we thank you for your patronage and for helping us to preserve our piece of history.